PMC to buy 100 BA masks for Rs 1.7 cr

To cater to the present day fire fighting needs of the fire brigade, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee yesterday decided to buy 100 Breather Apparatus (BA) masks worth Rs 1.70 crore. The amount for the purchase has been diverted from the present 2012-13 budget under the head of purchase of machines.

Vishal Tambe, chairman of the committee, said, “These equipment, which cost Rs 1.70 lakh a piece, are really safe and will be distributed to all the fire brigade ward offices in the city.”

According to Tambe, the BA has a special feature of an oxygen cylinder and an alarm that alerts firefighters about the depleting quantity of oxygen in the cylinder.

Prashant Ranpise, chief fire officer, PMC, said, “Although we had 100 BA masks, they were inadequate for the existing 515 working staff. These new high tech BA masks would cater to the present fire fighting needs of our firemen. As about 90 big and small fire incidents happen every week during summers, these BA masks would really prove helpful.”

The equipment will be kept at civic body’s Disaster Management Cell and will be used by fire brigade personnel in case of any eventuality.